Tbaction-belt



A. D. COLE.

TRACTION BELT.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 20. m1.

l'atenfvd Wt. 21, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEEF 2.

g #Lrfk'unD- (Tole, v 'r n I ma 5e 3a 34 3|; I

citizen of the United States, residin UNITED .sTA'rne TRUE 1). GOLD, 01' ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.-

Tuonon-nnm.

Lai 9.2m

1h all inhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, An'rlwn D. COLE, a.

Paul, in the county of Ramsey and i tate of Minnesota have invented oertam new and useful Improvement; in Traction-Belts, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to traction belts for what in known as thecate illar-type traction on inc and has for its 0 iject to-provide such a ielt which shall be constructed of a plurality ofplntes -formed of a single castmg interconnected at the joints with ex-- tending hooked portions so that said-plates may pivot in one direction while in the other direction the plates will be rigidly held from movement with their outer surface in a common plane. A specific object is to form the interconnecting elements so that the plates may be asacmhlml bit placing them atright angles, to each-otier, from which position the may he hmked'togcther and Wlll'lmljw' ocked front*dismountinp; when the belt paseies over the supporting wheels and-is inits outstretched position. Another object is to form the plates so that an imperforate continuous surface will he ex msod to the ground. To this end I pro ride the plates with inwardly-pmjecting teeth which engage'eorres mnding teeth between two spaced flanges of the driving wheels on which the belt rides.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in commotion with. he detailed descrlption thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating tile application of my invention in one lor|n,'.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of cake-pillar frame having my'inventiun applied thereto. Fig. 2Qis a fragmentary elernlional viewof the truck or lielt shown in Fig. i and one of the driring sprm-kets drawn to a lilrger scale and \\':l-li so|iu-. of

- the parts shown in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a iortion of the outslretrluul track shown in ig.il. 'l ig'slfl, 5, (i and (are plain, lmttlnin'sidc and end views, respectively, of one of the links or menilwrs of the track. Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views'siinilarto Figs. 4, 23,- and 7 of a coin ileniental track link. Figs. 12 and Iil'are o evational views of a. pair of links showing-theJnanner of hooking the came together. Fig. [4 is a sectional View, taltmionlihejlfl-H 'of Fig. 2.

lpcclllcatton o! Letters Patent. Appllcatlon lied larch 2o, 191?. I Sorta] Io. 150,048.

' Patented Oct. 21,1919.

Fig.v 15 is a sectional .view taken on line 15-15 of Fig; 1. In he ordi-nar formsof caterpillar hoe or tracks'in whic thelinkn are formed with interconnecting means for supporting the q belt in aplane against movement in 'one direction, said links are constructed of several or o erwis'e secured, adding eatly to the .cost of the structure and whic may at any time become loose and so cause damage to 'tgieces which must'be bolted together" the tractor. I overcome these difficulties, as

will now he explained. A

M invention isshowmin Fig. 1 as up.-

fillet to a caterpillar frame and supporting. means of ordinary construction. A ion itu;

d'inal channel frame 20 has secured to it at one end castings 21 which are rigidlybolted thereto-and which are pivotally mounted on an axle 22 carrying a. rear supportinwheel 23; At'the front end of frame 20 his idably mourited 'a castinggt which iii journaled on an axle 25 carrying a front supporting wheel 26;- Gaeting 24 is'rigldly b0 ted to frame 20 by means of-bolts 21 which pass through slots 28 in said castin Real-ward ofcasting 24 is rigidly secure to frame 20 a hrucket 29 in which is mounted'an adjusting-sci-ew'iiflby ncans'of which pro r Bide jnstmcnt of the casting 24 may be e The major portion of the tractor, which is not shown in the drawings; is supported on the rater-pillar through ln-ackets 37 pivoted on axle 22 and on the casting 24 secured to the front end pf frame '20.

The track properof the prises sets of complemental linksor members tained' to secure theluost deeirable belt tension.

caterpillar. 'com- :n. an :52 which are linked to her in a 1 nuimu-rtoheprescntly-dcscri {and which are driven from the rear drive wheel 23 as follows: 'lhese links are formed withaplatelike portion 33 which engages the-ground and whlch is pmvided with a rib 34 extending completely norm-e: thesaine on theunder s de thereof to prevent slipping. The wheel 23 is formed with two spacial"llnnular rims in 35 and 36 connected h spokes 4l, which rims gri le on tho ,llat mrtlonstlfl gilf'the links 31 ind -l2, said links being lielifon the wheel.

by a m|r of guide rile-g 3H termed onf each of'the' links 31. .An fupwu'rillyeoxtending gear teeth 39in lausthitiejflal with the plate portions 33 of each of the-linlin ill and. 82

anal engage-en martial-amending tooth All ex- 7 surface in contact with thepground tions of ,1:

teeth or considereble back The means for nterconnecting the various links fox-driving and for ceusmgtheseme,

to resist stresses in one direction when the track is outstretched, ereibest seen in Fif. 1 and 2, and in .thedeta lsof each link. tthe two extreme sides o-, eacl i of the. links 31 are fonnedupwnrdly-extending wellsi42 which have inwardly-pro'eoting ears" or hook ortions 43,. Similar w ll s 44. formed on the. inks 32 have ontwerdly projecting hook portions 45 which engage the hook portions 43 of the complemenm inks It will be noted that theqaintes 33 meet along surfaces 46. formed by the thereof nnd that h oks 43 and.- 45 extend hejgond saidedgesso that their planes of oontnctlie 1n isurfecesi 46. In this number-hooks {3 and .45 transmit tensile stresses and the.plates,33 compressii' e stresses, thus providing a. rigid ,beit struc-- ture. flvhenihe links are ontstretched onin facial niinement the some resist movement in one direction and. provide no impervious. rigid and continuous gripping or trnctire eat-iii! In constructing the hook nembers dti end; 45 the hooks 43 are made to extend below the upper su;rface.of late .33 end ,are honn cted; therewith, while, ooks (5 terminate one. level with theupper. surfaces 0f;Bflid,.-P1l\tBS.-a As the trackpasses .over ,the-su portin =1 wheels the links 32 rock on tiie imksfiv through the lower.- 001119118752 of hooks 45 which engage the surfaces 53 oiflie hooks 43 in phmes 46 along a. line 47* which is eoincident with. the, intersections of the .upper surfaces of plate 33-,nnd =the surfaces46.

This; line is hence the nxisofiv each pair of links. i r a To deprive the, verious-l'mks of-relatige lateral motion, or tovent the same from sliding npitrtalon' t e surfaces 46, sets of. en'gn ing in on sockets are. rovided, whirl are c early shown in; the 'rawings, On the edgw oi d1, nre prdvided-lug's 48 which nroformed a's xtensions of the hook portions 43 'andgpitie plates 33; and e which are positioned i'nwirrdl of said hooks and extend ebeyolid the-sur e plate proEer. -Ben'eath the protruding" pore Walls 44 on linkg 32 ar'fomiedsockets 49 which extendinwardl-j' beyond the" oscillation for surfaces 46 and which ereadaptedrto receive the lugs 48, as is cleerlyshownin'Fig 2. It see 46 of link 31. 'From "this. position link is caste ofthe- 1 becomes evident that the sockets 49 extend away from-the surfaces-of contact 46 to a, greater extent than the lugs 48 extend'beyond the-shmeto crmit said'lugsto have movement within 0 same. The actionofthe lugs 48 and sockets 49..is similer'to the hooks 43 and 45. Lugs 48 are formed with corners 50 which engage surfaces 5li'within sockets 49 when the belt ortreck is bent, seid' surface being at a. right angle to the--' plane of contact 45 eildjtheline of contact" formed thereby being coincident with the line of contact 47 .of .the"hook members 43 t and 45. mannerthe 'links are caused to pivot! along the some axes through-both so the hooks ifinnd dli andetho ings 48 and sockets49, endjere restrei'ned from lateral sliding inone direction hy meens of thislast devicc. To prevent .leteral sliding in the opposite direction a similar expedient is 35 used. Adjacent the sockets 49 in member 32 are' provided lugs 54. which are 1 formed as cont nuations of the plates 33 thereon These 1 lugs fit into sockets-'fimformedin links 31 under the ide' ribs :38 thereof. A corner 56 of'the n 38 engages a, surface 57. coinci dent with the-top Qfplate 33 'in,-the axis of oscillationpf; the; respective-links in a manner-similar to the operation of lugs 49 and sockets 50. 'If-the. interconnection of. links at 58 in Fig; 2 is'observed, the operation of the joint caneasily be comprehended. If in this cese link 31 is held rigid and ii! 132 attempted toibe moved downward, the motion 'of the'seme-wilhbe arrested when 5111' face .51' thereof engages, corner 50 of link 31. If, However, the said link is. moved: upward the movement of the some iserrestcd' when surface 5 50f: link 32 engages corner 560i link .31. In this manner rfect rocking onoscillatio'n is efi'e'cted wit out a hinge ipintle'andhingejstra s. In. constructing prefer to form the portions thereof remotefr'om-the axes 147 these'lugs andeockets:

with arcuate .surfaccs,-so thet'as the links rock perfect freedom of movement of the san1e is. effected, and so. that the 'oints therein remainclosed. at all times and once prevent dirtfi om pessingthrou h the same and decreasmg. the eficlency o the treck ombeit. Y

For assembling purposes the links are constructed as fo1lows:j Plates 33 are mode somewhat thicker than the hooks, 43 and 45 and are' reduced in thi kness'in the-respective links 31' sndfl32aet 59 and =60 at the extremeends of the some where thehook portions 43 and 45 operate. Innssembling' the links reference-to Figs. 12 and 13'ismadez' a link 31 isp1ecedin a. horizontel position, as shown in- 12, end a. link 32' tlofl over it'i'n a. vertical'po-.

sition w'ith the uppersurfece-offthe plate ortion tiii'th'ereo coincident with the surseowfi; a ga n;

sitibnsshown be moved downward into the, oil? we m Fig. 18, the formationo the 82 tion s variousjugs and socketsbemg so constr cted'ae to p rmit-ofthis V ovement. Due to the properdhnensionj ofthe' lates 33 and the reduced 'portions gand 6C thereof, all

from which the 7 links cannot be' unloekedor dismounted.

' "1 and 15.

acover, is formed gabled and extends imwebs fifi'extend the cavities formed the reduced portions 59 of the giate 33.

imilar webs 65 exiendputwardly mend plates 44 across the cavities formed b the reduced portions 600i the plate 33. ese reduced portions are thus sufliciently ireinforced to serve the purpose of the traction surfaces. a

From the description of the track it will become evident that racticaliy no dirt or earth can pass through the'treck proper or between the links thereof or.the interconnections of the same from below the track. To protect the track fromabove, a shed or roof 61 1s emplo ed, as is clearly shown in Figs. his shed, which merely serves as mediately above the lower portion of the track throughout the length of the same, be-

ing supported from the caterpiilar frame 20;

by means of hangers 6' 2. In Fig. 15 it can I t be seen thaiEfthe-shed is formed with slots 63 and o ther apertures 64- through which the'spokes and rims of wheels 23 and 26 may pass n this manner the shed is caused to extend substantially throughout the length of the track and covers the interconnecting joints of the various links in the track. An dirt that'is dropped or thrown upon mem iertil slides of? the same and is deposited on the ground adjacent the track, thus keeping the track clean and insuring efficient operation of the same.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An exceptionally rigid and. durable track is produced with no parts to loosen or so get out of order. New links may easily be exchanged for worn-out or defective links in a very short time. 'The track is com stanfly kept clean, thus minimizing the friction and increasing -the efiiciency 'of the track.

A further articular advantage of my invention res" es in the manne In h h he roof 61 o eratesto keep the interior of the belt, an particularly the lug-receiving spgocket portions free from dirt. It is to be noted that the lower edges of roof 61 extend said dirt w f the normal poalso, in this connection thatfrom the'zfact stones or obstructions. a

tread";

the heir m tones or; p

standin portions 42 and on this a V 1 i, la nm the terior of the ower-rlui of e lifiltr In so far as this dirt tends state ents between the rimsof the wheel and adjacent the sprocket teeth 39 and 40, it'will be earried upwardly through the 61 or aroundf the end of the-whee amel-ding to the direction in which theihielt is beingdriuen, and as the belt itsfu fzperrun position discharge lling u emporl heron: W In'this manner, 7 7 clean themselves automatically of accumulations of dirt and'dis- 1 charge saidaccumuletions tonne side or the other of themovingbclt. It is to he noted',

that thedrive is rcally'contact of independent sprocket teeth with no pockets or holes into'whichisaid-tcethextend if any or: 7

larger obstructionmuch as a stone, shoulglibe positioned on thebelt adjacent a'tooth when the toothlnf ithewheel approaches the rfl l rims 5113136 and would not cause any injury to the belt or itsdrir i-ng means This clearance for the eoiactingl sprocket teeth insures eilicient action without trouble from 1. A caterpillar tractionhelt comprising a multiplicity of, integrally formed a members each havin' a. base plate ,of I substantial thickness with recesseeextending therein traction enginescomprisinga plurality of separate plates h mem Q hook alinement from Imt'ement in one direction, one of said hook "ortions extendingihoth; below and above die axis'of oscillation of m idly connected together,

hiringjoverlappmfi;

the plates audtheother of said hook pot-1.1L.

tions extending above the axiaanrl tenninating at the same so that the links can bend till they make a right angle with one a'n-f" other. 1

3. A traction belt for eater illar typetrac- "af urality ofsep- 1 on t eplntes havin crate p overlappi termination in an anmilar portion adapted 1 heplutes 1n rig; :1

g 7 n r manages? Plates in rigid alinement fro movementijfii v 7 one direction, one of said h mam V member to form a pivotal multiplicity of com to engage an extended surface of the other i connection tween the plates, sald plates being formed with recesses or cavities inrwhich the hook portions ma be oscillate to permit unlocking of the hook members;

' 4. A caterpillar tractwn belt'comprisingamultiplicity of complemcntal pairs of sections, each section being constructed with an integrally formed base plate and end plates extending at right an said base plates being 0 the same .w1dth,the

end plates of one of said complemental memhere being at its extreme ends and the end plates of the other com lem-ental. members mfi positioned mwar 1 from the ends, and ocking members on the end plates so that when the sections are assembled a traction belt is formed having a traction surface of uniform width. b

5. A caterpillar traction belt comprising a lemental pairs of secing constructed with an integrall formed base late and end plates exten ing at right ang esthereto, all of said base plates being of the same width, the end plates of one of said complemented tions, each section members being at its extreme ends and-the end ing end plates of the other complemented members bein positioned inwardly from its ends, the gase plates of the members having lates at the extreme ends thereof beormed with cavities insideof said end the end plates of the plates,

adapted to enter said mental members bein cavities when the bet is flexed In one direction, and locking members on the end lates so that when the sections are'assemled atraction belt is formed having a traction surface of uniform width.

6. A caterpillar traction. belt comprising a multiplicity of pairs of sections, each section being constructed with an integrally formed base plate and end lates extending at right angles thereto, plates being of the same width, the end lates of one of said -cornplernental members eing situated at its extreme ends and the end plates of the other complementa'l memhe ends, and we the end'plates and the base plates inwardly from the and extend so that the plates may at right angles to each other has thereto all of' other compl'ea] of said base that when the sections are assembled a traction belt is formed having a traction surface of uniform. width.

, '7. A caterpillar belt comprising a multiplicity of interconnected sections forming a continuous inner surface and comprising teeth centrally projected from the sections, andsa drive wheel for said belt embodying a pair of spaced rims with tooth members formed between said rims so that the space between the rims is divided into sections open at each side, said rims rolling on the inner surface of 8. A caterplllar traction belt comprising a multiplicity of interconnected sections forming a continuous inner surface and comprising teeth centrally projected inwardly from the sections, and drive wheels for sald belt each of which has a pair of spaced rims and tooth members formed between said rims, some of the latter being constituted by the outer ends of spokesextendin between the rims, said rim teeth cooperating with the section teeth to drive the belt. I

9. A caterpillar traction belt comprising a multipiicity of; sections having coiiperatmg interlockinp means so that when the sections are assemb ed a belt is formed having comlete freedom for flexure in one direction and held rigid in a plane against flexure in the other direction, drive wheels for said belt, and a roof member covering the lower rpn of the belt, said roof member extending on each side of the drive wheels to receive dirt dropped from the wheels and bait and discharge the same outside of the limits of the belt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR D. COLE.

the sections and the rim teeth cooperating with the section teeth to I drive the belt. 

